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Public Health

Educate, facilitate, and motivate your friends, family, and community toward a healthier lifestyle.

PA student checks a patient's weight
PA student checks a patient's weight

Types

Associate
Bachelor
Minor

Location

On-Campus
Online

Credits

33*

Cost

$9,875
$220/credit hour

Help others improve and maintain their health and wellness!

If your desire is to help people lead better, healthier lives, a public health degree can set you up for success in a number of careers. In fact, there’s a growing need for these professionals! From nursing homes to fitness training, with a bachelor’s degree in public health, you’ll be ready to pursue a number of occupations in local health departments, hospitals, health agencies, and more. If your passion is to improve the health and wellness of those around you, a public health degree is the perfect tool to help you help others.

Anchor: Stats

By the numbers

16:1

Student-to-Faculty Ratio

$48,860

Average Salary

4%

Industry Growth

96%

Receive Financial Aid
Anchor: Programs & Requirements
Programs & Requirements

Programs & Requirements

* The credit hours listed on this page only reference the specific program requirements and is not reflective of the total hours necessary to receive your degree. Cumberlands requires all students obtain a minimum of 60 hours for an associate’s degree and a total of 120 hours for a bachelor’s degree. Transfer and prior learning credits may be counted toward those totals.

To learn more about our General Education Requirements, please visit the page referenced below or explore our Academic Catalog. 

General Education Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Public Health

Now is the perfect time to get into public health! According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in this industry are growing faster than ever, and opportunities are plentiful. As you pursue your public health degree, you’ll study with caring, experienced faculty members who will help you tailor a program of study unique to you and your interests. You’ll learn the skills you need to help others live healthier lives, including the use of technology and communication skills. Cumberlands also provides on-site internship opportunities to help you further your skills in your specific field of interest. 

Course Requirements

Note: If double majoring in Public Health and Exercise and Sport Science, only the core classes can be duplicated between the majors. Electives cannot overlap.

HESS 233     Functional Human Anatomy and Physiology 

HESS 333     Nutrition 

HESS 430     Substance Abuse 

HLTH 130     Foundations of Health Science 

HLTH 335     Introduction to the Study of Disease 

HLTH 336     Epidemiology 

HLTH 431     Public Health Administration 

HLTH 432     Community and Environmental Health 

HLTH 462     Public Health Internship (6 semester hours) 

Plus three (3) hours of upper level HLTH and/or HESS electives.

HESS 233     Functional Human Anatomy and Physiology 

HESS 333     Nutrition 

HESS 430     Substance Abuse 

HLTH 130     Foundations of Health Science 

HLTH 335     Introduction to the Study of Disease 

HLTH 336     Epidemiology 

HLTH 431     Public Health Administration 

HLTH 432     Community and Environmental Health 

Plus nine (9) hours of upper level HLTH and/or HESS electives, or those approved by the Department Chair.

A Bachelor of Arts requires all the same courses as a Bachelor of Science with the addition of four classes (12 hours) in a foreign language.

Choose one foreign language sequence:

FREN 131        Elementary French I

FREN 132        Elementary French II

FREN 231        Intermediate French I

FREN 232        Intermediate French II

 

SPAN 131        Elementary Spanish I

SPAN 132        Elementary Spanish II

SPAN 231        Intermediate Spanish I

SPAN 232        Intermediate Spanish II

Associate of Science in Public Health

An associate degree in public health will allow you to learn much of the same knowledge and skills you would learn with a bachelor’s degree, but in a more streamlined program that takes less time to complete. 

Course Requirements

HESS 333     Nutrition 

HESS 430     Substance Abuse 

HLTH 130     Foundations of Health Science 

HLTH 431     Public Health Administration 

HLTH 432     Community and Environmental Health 

Plus three (3) hours of upper level HLTH and/or HESS electives, or those approved by the Department Chair.

Minor in Public Health

Even a few classes about public health can boost your major and give you knowledge and skills that will benefit the rest of your life.

Course Requirements

HESS 233     Functional Human Anatomy and Physiology 

HESS 333     Nutrition 

HESS 430     Substance Abuse 

HLTH 130     Foundations of Health Science 

HLTH 335     Introduction to the Study of Disease 

HLTH 336     Epidemiology 

HLTH 431     Public Health Administration 

HLTH 432     Community and Environmental Health 

Take the Next Step

Anchor: Mission & Goals

Mission & Goals

The purpose of the public health degree program is to improve health (physical, mental, emotional, social, occupational, and spiritual) through education.

Build a strong academic foundation in health.
Learn a variety of skills that are essential to success in the public health field.
Become equipped to help others lead healthier lives.
Effectively educate others in health.
Prepare to jumpstart a career as a competent health specialist.
Anchor: Career Outcomes

Public Health Careers & Outcomes

All stats from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Health Education Specialist: $48,860

Health Education Specialist: $48,860

Work in healthcare facilities, nonprofits, public health departments, and more to create wellness programs, work one on one with patients, create materials for learning, and more.

Community Health Worker: $48,860

Community Health Worker: $48,860

Identify health-related issues, collect data, and discuss health concerns within the community.

Epidemiologist: $78,830

Epidemiologist: $78,830

Conduct research and investigate patterns and causes of disease and injury.

Nursing Home Administrator: $101,340

Nursing Home Administrator: $101,340

Manage all aspects of a nursing home facility, including admissions, building maintenance, and care of its residents.

Medical Records Specialist: $46,660

Medical Records Specialist: $46,660

Compile, process, and maintain patient files.

Dietician/Nutritionist: $61,650

Dietician/Nutritionist: $61,650

Work with patients to plan and conduct food service or nutritional programs that will help them lead their healthiest lives.

Anchor: FAQs

Common Questions

There are many options and opportunities within the field of public health! Whether you want to work in a hospital setting, train clients in fitness, or get your foot in the door of human services, public health is a great jumping-off point for a number of careers. It encompasses local health departments, education, health agencies, pharmaceuticals, and more. For more details see the list of career outcomes above! 

Yes! Even if you pursue a career outside of health or human services altogether, a public health degree can still be beneficial. The insights you’ll gain will help you prepare for any job that requires critical thinking and people skills as well as a professional demeanor – from business to customer service to office work. 

Some important skills for those who want to work in public health are compassion, solid written and verbal communication skills, the ability to work with others, organizational skills, a willingness to learn, a strong work ethic, analytical thought, and data assessment skills. 

A public health degree is for people who have an interest in health and wellness but may not want to work in a hospital or medical facility or perform specialized medical tasks like those of a licensed doctor. While a medical degree is more in-depth and specialized, a public health degree covers a wide range of topics and skills and is perfect for those who want to educate others in help, work with hospital data, be a fitness professional, do community work, and so on. 

Fortunately, yes! In fact, jobs for health educators are expected to grow 11 percent over the next several years. Additionally, job openings for Social and Human Service Assistants are projected to grow 17 percent by 2030. There is a growing need for these kinds of workers--you could be one of them! 

Anchor: Faculty

Faculty Experts in Public Health

Learn more about the professors you'll interact with in the public health program!

Kandace West

Adjunct Professor
Health, Exercise and Sport Science

Kandace West

Contact Information

kandace.west [at] ucumberlands.edu
Remote
Matthew Hill

Matthew Hill

Adjunct Faculty
Health, Exercise and Sport Science

Matthew Hill

Contact Information

606-539-4315
matthew.hill [at] ucumberlands.edu
Luecker Building, RM 215
Julia Chaney

Julia Chaney

Adjunct Professor
Health, Exercise and Sport Science

Julia Chaney

Contact Information

724-506-6540
julia.chaney [at] ucumberlands.edu
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Find out all there is to know about our public health degree program. Or any program, for that matter!

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